Simon Fujiwara Who's the Woman Sitting Near the Window?, 2024

Simon Fujiwara’s Who’s the Woman Sitting Near the Window? is from his series of works recreating iconic art works by famous, historically significant artists through the perspective of his original cartoon figure Who the Bær. This work, executed in charcoal, pastel, and acrylic on canvas, depicts Who the Bær rendered in a cubist style, alluding to the work of Pablo Picasso. Set against a backdrop divided by a window and blue background, Fujiwara transforms who’s anatomy, which includes their characteristic pink tongue and golden liquid into a cubist composition. The work references the artist’s series of portraits from the late 1930s and early 1940s depicting seated women, who in many cases were romantic partners of the painter. In this case, who resembles a female figure, but the style of the work further contributes to highlight the character’s ambiguous identity. The title of the work suggests that the figure is female, but alludes to a feeling of confusion, as seen by Who’s facial expression, which doubles as a reference to Who’s constant search for identity in a world of images. This point is furthered by the presence of Who holding up a phone. Instead of looking out the window, as in Picasso’s design, the phone, which provides access to the world of images, is the main point of focus for Who.